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Background

With a total gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 430 billion, Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in South Asia. Between 2000 and 2019, Bangladesh’s economy registered high GDP growth, averaging around 6% per annum. During this period, there were several notable improvements across different socioeconomic indicators, putting the country on track for a formal graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026. Bangladesh’s score on the human development index (HDI) increased from 0.49 in 2000 to 0.68, placing it among countries categorized as medium human development. The national poverty rate fell from over 48% in 2000 to less than 19% in 2022. 

Despite the progress, Bangladesh faces several development challenges, and with the current trend, the country is unlikely to meet several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Even before the political crisis in 2024, Bangladesh was grappling with double-digit inflation. According to the latest estimate, GDP is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025, much slower than the GDP growth in the past. Without an uptick in private investment, the economy cannot diversify, a necessary condition for creating decent jobs. With low social spending and weak capacities, the government is constrained from providing quality services to the people. Bangladesh is also one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and is prone to natural hazards, including climate-induced disasters.   

As the UN’s development agency, UNDP has been in Bangladesh since 1972, promoting democratic governance, climate adaptation, environmental protection and inclusive growth and, helping the country to achieve equitable and sustainable development. UNDP has been a close partner of Bangladesh in co-designing policy solutions, building national capacities, and promoting innovations to help meet its developmental aspirations.   

Signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997 was a major political achievement, marking the end of a protracted low intensity conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). One of the key government strategies outlined in the 8th Five-Year Plan is to fully implement the provisions of the Peace Accord.  The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) aims to implement accelerated development activities in the region. Despite the good intentions and works, the CHT still suffers from its remote location, poverty, and limited infrastructure, impacting essential services such as education, healthcare, and water access. Despite commitments, the CHT institutions haven't achieved their full potential due mainly to undefined roles and pending elections, hindering effective service delivery and regional governance. The unique biodiversity of the CHT, including forests, wildlife habitats, and waterbodies, is at risk due to the diversion of forest land for population and settlement growth, inappropriate agricultural practices, and climate change.

To continue the momentum of successful implementation of the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in CHT project (2003–2016) and Strengthening Inclusive Development in CHT project (SID-CHT 2017-2023), MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from many development partners, have undertaken a new project titled “Ecosystem Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT)”. The project focuses on enhancing resilient ecosystems, development and governance in the CHT by building community and ecosystem resilience through various development and conservation outputs and activities. Support for resilient livelihoods and micro-enterprises will be combined while conserving ecosystems and biodiversity and improving local governance by empowering local communities, including women and youth and marginalized sections, and institutions in partnerships with the Government of Bangladesh, counterparts, traditional leaders, and development partners.

The ERRD-CHT Project will produce results on four interlinked levels, thereby strengthening the ability of the population to enhance resilience, development and governance that impact the people’s lives and livelihoods. The project will be implemented in all 121 Unions of 26 Upazilas in the three Hill Districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. In the CHT, nearly 100,000 rural- and urban households will directly benefit from the project. It will include the extreme urban and rural poor and vulnerable groups, including women and youth.

The main objective of ERRD-CHT project is “to strengthen gender-responsive resilience and development through improved governance and ecosystems, and adaptive livelihoods with market access.” which will be achieved through the following four Outputs:

• Output 1: Improved and resilient forest ecosystems and livelihoods.
• Output 2: Enhanced capacity and institutional building of the CHT institutions and strengthened democratic governance with increased people’s participation, responsive communities and more effective service delivery.
• Output 3: Inclusive and gender-responsive learning and empowerment among women and girls. 
• Output 4: Enabled environment for self-reliant youth development and leadership.

The project will be implemented in all 121 Unions of 26 Upazilas in the three Hill Districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. In the CHT, nearly 100,000 rural- and urban households will directly benefit from the project. It will include the extreme urban and rural poor and vulnerable groups, including women and youth.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Analyst (Biodiversity and Environment) will report to Programme Manager.

The Project Analyst (Biodiversity and Environment) will be the key member and provide technical, analytical, and coordination support to the ERRD-CHT project related to biodiversity ecosystems restoration and environmental conservation. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager. S/he will work in a diversified team and play supporting role to all members of Livelihoods, Climate Change and NRM team, Gender, Community Cohesion, and Women Empowerment Team, Planning, Monitoring and Reporting Unit, and MoCHTA Coordination and Capacity Building Team in order to achieve his/her deliverables.  

Key Responsibilities: 

A. Technical Support, Coordination & Implementation

• Take lead in preparing different guidelines related with biodiversity implementation in CHT.
• Prepare training modules related to Biodiversity Ecosystems Restoration, Environmental Conservation and provide ToT to the project team and relevant stakeholders.
• Support to the district team in planning, budgeting and tracking of delivery of including Annual Work Plan, and Procurement Plan preparation.
• Lead biodiversity and environmental restoration assessments and planning at the community and ecosystem levels.
• Lead the development and implementation of community biodiversity conservation/ecosystem restoration action plans (including reforestation, watershed protection, habitat rehabilitation).
• Provide guidance on species selection, planting guidelines, day observation, ecological monitoring, and climate adaptation measures.
• Support baseline and endline biodiversity assessments (terrestrial and aquatic).
• Integrate traditional ecological knowledge into biodiversity strategies.
• Maintain regular coordination with implementing partners, community and related stakeholders and obtain their support to smoothly implement the project.  
• Support to prepare Project implementation Plan (PIP) for donor, and other related documents.
• Support to Programme Manager to develop different concept notes, project proposals as per need. 

B. Community Engagement, Capacity Building & Gender-Responsive Planning

• Ensure meaningful participation of women, youth, and indigenous groups in biodiversity-related decisions.
• Build capacity of community institutions (Biodiversity Conservation Groups, Village Common Forest, Women Led Climate Resilience Committee, etc.), relevant stakeholders on biodiversity, ecosystems, environment related issues.
• Facilitate participatory environmental education and awareness campaigns in communities and schools as per project needs.
• Facilitate participatory workshops with indigenous and Bengalee communities (especially women and girls) on sustainable resource management.
• Train local stakeholders in biodiversity monitoring, agroecology, and nature-based livelihood options.
• Support the formation of Community Biodiversity Conservation Groups focusing on GEN 3 lens. 
• Support to develop and update the Gender Action Plan in line with Gender Strategy.  

C. Policy & Institutional Coordination

• Support alignment of project activities with GoB policies, including the Forest Policy, Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and Local Government plans.
• Liaise with the Department of Environment, Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Local Government Institutions (LGIs), Hill District Councils (HDCs), and relevant CHT agencies.
• Support preparation of policy briefs and case studies showcasing project impact.

D. Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Support to the Planning, Monitoring and Reporting (PMR) team to develop different M&E tools, communication and visibility plans, M&E Framework, 
• Support to the PMR team to conduct Baseline, Mid-term, Endline study. 
• Support to M&E team to carefully review monthly, quarterly progress data, analyse and provide feedback if needed. 
• Review component progress of LoA activities and provide guidance.   
• Develop and maintain biodiversity-related indicators for M&E.
• Support the Programme Manager in tracking outputs and results against project log frame/ performance measurement framework.
• Document best practices, success stories, and technical reports on biodiversity restoration.
• Provide inputs to annual reports, donor briefs, and field-level planning.
• Support to track biodiversity indicators (species recovery, forest cover, soil health) and community resilience metrics.
• Prepare technical reports for donors, government, and stakeholders.
• Support to PMR and Communications team to document best practices and lessons learned for scaling up successful models.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy    

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development    

• Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Management    

• Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
• Partnership Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2030 Agenda: People 

• Gender: Gender Mainstreaming

2030 Agenda: Planet 

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Natural Resource Management

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Environmental Studies, Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or any other related discipline is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master´s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, or environmental programming.

Required skills:

• Substantive Field experience in community-led climate change adaptation, community based conservation, preferably in indigenous or remote areas.
• Strong technical knowledge and experience of tropical forest ecosystems, native species restoration, ecosystem services, and biodiversity monitoring tools.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Proven experience working with international organizations in livelihoods, natural resource management (NRM), and climate change, including managing development projects funded through bilateral and multi-donor approaches, with familiarity in working with Government of Bangladesh (GoB). 
• Substantive field experience in community-led climate change adaptation and community-based conservation, preferably in indigenous or remote areas, with strong technical expertise in tropical forest ecosystems, native species restoration, ecosystem services, and biodiversity monitoring tools.
• Demonstrated skills in coordination, facilitation, report-writing, and stakeholder engagement, with the ability to communicate and advocate effectively with diverse actors, including indigenous communities, youth, marginalized groups, INGOs, government, civil society, and local institutions.
• Knowledge and experience in project monitoring and evaluation (M&E), including baseline, mid-term, and end-of-project evaluations, with strong analytical and research skills to generate evidence-based recommendations for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration.
• Experience in applying gender and social inclusion in environmental and development programming, with proven ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure and deliver high-quality results.
• Prior experience working in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). 
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong analytical and research skills with the ability to generate evidence-based recommendations for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration.
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills to engage diverse stakeholders, including indigenous communities, youth, and marginalized groups.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
• Working knowledge in any of the CHT languages or Chittagonian dialect will be added advantage.
   

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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